Four Tigers on preseason All-ACC team

Quarterback Tajh Boyd, receiver Sammy Watkins, center Dalton Freeman and running back Andre Ellington were named to the preseason All-ACC team, which was announced on Wednesday during the conference's annual media event in Greensboro, N.C.

Clemson's top 20 players, according to 'O and W'

During the spring and summer, Orange and White compiled a group of stories about Clemson's top 20 players for the upcoming season. Here's the full list, in reverse order:

20. Jaron Brown, wide receiver
19. Tony Steward, linebacker
18. Corey Crawford, defensive end
17. DeShawn Williams, defensive tackle
16. Bashaud Breeland, cornerback
15. Tyler Shatley, offensive lineman
14. Carlos Watkins, defensive tackle
13. Travis Blanks, nickelback
12. Xavier Brewer, defensive back
11. Chandler Catanzaro, kicker
10. Brandon Thomas, offensive lineman
9. Brandon Ford, tight end
8. Malliciah Goodman, defensive end
7. Rashard Hall, cornerback
6. Dalton Freeman, center
5. Stephone Anthony, middle linebacker
4. DeAndre Hopkins, receiver
3. Andre Ellington, running back
2. Sammy Watkins, wide receiver
1. Tajh Boyd, quarterback

Sammy Watkins is ACC's preseason player of the year

High expectations, indeed: Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins has been named the preseason pick for ACC player of the year. Tiger quarterback Tajh Boyd was third in the voting.

ACC expansion forces cancellation of series

When you supersize the ACC, this is what happens.

Clemson announced on Wednesday that it will have to cancel upcoming non-conference home-and-home series with Ole Miss and Oklahoma State, mainly because the addition of Syracuse and Pitt will require a nine-game league schedule for ACC teams.

Syracuse will join the ACC in 2013

This just in: Syracuse has reached an agreement with the Big East to sever its relationship with that conference on July 1, 2013, and formally join the ACC.

If Pitt can get the OK to leave the Big East and jump to the ACC, the league will reach 14 members, which would mean the league would move to a nine-game football schedule for conference games. That could jeopardize many old non-conference rivalries.

Too early to talk football? Never!

Greg Wallace of the Orange and White takes a game-by-game look at the upcoming season and predicts that the Tigers will finish 10-2.

I'll take it.

Clemson is a top-15 team, say preseason magazines

The consensus among most college football prognosticators is that Clemson will be pretty good this year, at least on paper.

 Orange and White reports that the Tigers have been picked 13th by Athlon, 14th by Phil Steele and 15th by Lindy's.

New book: 'The Danny Ford Years'

Former Post & Courier sports writer Larry Williams, who blogs at Eye on the Tigers (which I don't link to nearly enough), has a new book coming out -- The Danny Ford Years at Clemson: Romping and Stomping.

Williams, who co-authored last year's State of Disunion, about the Clemson-USC rivalry, has this to day about his new book:

The research and writing for the rivalry book was a thrill that I didn't think was capable of being matched. Digging into the Ford story exceeded that experience for a number of reasons. A chronicling of that era is enlightening even to those who were around, because memories are hazy after all these years. It also goes a long way toward explaining Clemson fans' animosity toward the ACC and the influence of North Carolina.

The book will go on sale in July, and I'm looking to order one as soon as possible.

Dabo Swinney gets contract extension

Clemson football Coach Dabo Swinney just got a bit more job security -- his contract has been extended to 2017. He'll still receive $1.965 annually, plus other pay incentives that could boost his salary.